Process and apparatus for recording sound



March 5, 1935. 7

Fig.1

R. L. A. NUBLAT 1 993346 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR RECO-RDING SOUND Filed Sept. 27. 1932 Sheets-Sheet 1 WMMv -M March 5, -1935. R. A. NUBLAT PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR RECORDING SOUND Filed Sept. 27, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/QVE/VTOR Wm: Jim @4464 BY ATTORNEY-S 77M WW dtravels below the point, of the vibrator knife; of The film is thus cut at its central line, into Patented Mar. 5, 1935 1 rnoonss AND APPARATUS FOR RECORDING somm Rene Leon Adolphe Nublat, Paris, France Application September-2'1, 1932,881'181 No. 635,032 In France May 19, 1932 2 Claims. 01. 274-11) The present invention has for its object a proc- In the drawings:

ess permitting to obtain, by mechanical means, Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the device.

the recording, and the reproduction of vibrations Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

of any kind especially sounds. v Fig. 3 is a view in section along AA of Fig. 1. The process consists essentially in cutting, by Fig. 4 is a view in section along 3-3 of Fig. 2. 5

means of a knife or a needle, or any other suit- Fig. 5 shows a length of film cut during the able cutting instrument, actuated by a vibratory recording.

apparatus of any type, (operated by the appara- Fig. 6 shows a length of. film cut and then tus producing the vibrations to be recorded) a blackened for the reproduction.

film which consists of an opaque or transparent Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detail views on a larger 10 hand, preferably very thin, or any other suitable scale. transparent backing. As represented in the drawings, the device per- This cutting is effected at the mean central mitting torecord and to reproduce the sounds on line of the film, which is thus divided into two a film 1, in conformity with the invention, comparts, wherein the inner edge is formed by the prises a vibratory apparatus 2, of a known type, 5 groove traced by the knife of the vibrator and with electro-magnet, actuated durin h ec rdcorresponding to the recorded oscillations. The ing, by the vibrations which are produced, by the reproduction iseffected in a very simple manner, sounds delivered into a' microphone of any type, by projecting upon one of the parts of the film these vibrations being amplified, in the known thus cut, and spraying thereon a liquid of darkmanner, so as to operate the vibratory apparatus colour, based on acetone or alcohol, and to cause This pp ra aetuates lmife 3 Whose Point the part thus obtained to travel between a source consists of a diamond point preferably bevelled of luminous radiations, and a photo-electric cell. as shown at 3a (Fig. 8) which cuts the film fol- The process, which forms the object of the lowing its central line, as soon as the vibratory present invention can also be used in first black- System is put in action. The form of the point ening the entire film upon its whole surface by of the knife 3 may also vary according to the means of any liquid, and then cutting the film nature of the vibrations to be recorded. The film thus blackened by'means of the knife of the vi- 1 consists preferably of a very thin transparent brator as above stated; it will then sufiice to pass band or other suitable transparent backing.

one of the halves of the film thus out between the This film is unwound from a reel 4, and travels source of light and the photo-electric cell, thus upon a support 5 which is adjustable in height obtaining simultaneously the recording and the by means of screws 6. reproduction of vibrations of sounds which is 7 is the frame of the machine, 8 are the feedchiefiy advantageous in case of test. ing devices which eventually permit the op The invention has further for'its object a deliquid (hereinafter described) to dry, during the 35 vice for the embodiment of the aforesaid process. rep o before it Wound; the drying is This device consists essentially of the combinafacilitated by a grid 9 which conceals the interior tion of a vibratory apparatus operated by the of the frame. transmitted oscillations and provided with a During the recording, under the effect of sound 40 pointed knife or any other suitable cutting instruvibrations, the point of the knife 3, whose presment whose point is preferably bevelled, which sure on the film 1 is regulated at 111 to the desired cuts the film according to the sinuous line correvalue by the screw 6 traces upon the band the 'sponding to the vibrations to be recorded, of a groove or furrow 10 (Fig. 5) corresponding to the support adjustable in height upon which the film recorded vibrations.

a suitable means 'for applying, during the reprotwo parts 1a and lb which can very readily be duction one of the partsof the film cut out during separated from one another, the out part thus the recording, upon the film to be blackened; of obtained is extremely sharp. The film must be suitable means for then separating after the very thin, for it is not possible to record elevated blackening, the part of the film in question from harmonies or high tones on a thick film, because the blackened film the apparatus being completed, of too slight amplitudes; in the latter case, the for the reproduction, by a device which projects slight amplitudes being absorbed by the thicka sprayed liquid upon a film to be blackened; by ness of the film. a source of luminous radiation and a photo-elec- By the use of a sprayer or other analogous detric cell of a known type. I vice 10 operated by compressed air, one projects upon the film a sprayed liquid, based upon acetone or alcohol, the compressed air enters at 11, and this compressed air is supplied from a recipient 11a by a pipe 11b (Fig. 9) and acts upon the sprayed liquid at 10a, in such manner that this liquid is' projected at 10b upon the film to be blackened.

Only the part of the film adjacent to and not covered by the film part which is cut during the recording will be blackened at l'a (Fig. 6); the part lb of this film remains unblackened. The region thus blackened is exactly marked out by the groove corresponding to the recorded vibrations.

The band thus blackened upon one of its halves is automatically separated, by any means, from the part of the film 1a or 1b which partly covers it, and then travels over a photo-electric cell 12, of any type, and near a source of luminous radiations 13, the beam of light passing in the known manner through the aperture 14 provided in the support upon which the film travels before the cell 12.

For copies of the original, one may use, instead of the spraying process as above described, any known photographic process and chiefly in the case of the simultaneous photography of the sound and the image.

15 is an electric motor actuating the mechanism for unwinding the film.

The whole of the above mentioned device may also be used for cutting, by means of a knife 3, a film preliminarily blackened by means of the spraying apparatus 10-11. The film, immediately after it has been blackened, is cut into two parts which are separated from one another by any-mechanical means, before the displacement in front of the photo-electric cell.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method for recording sound vibrations upon a film tape of transparent material consisting in moving the tape longitudinally over a support and under a vibratory cutter, simultaneously vibrating the cutter by the impact of sound waves whereby an incision is made in the film by the cutter and in applying darkening material to the areas of the tape at the opposite edges of the incision to cloud the transparency of the film 2. Apparatus for recording sound vibrations comprising a support, a film adapted to move over the support, means for moving the film, a cutter resting upon the film above said support, means for vibrating the cutter as the cutter makes anincision in the film and means adjacent the cutter for spraying darkened material upon the whole surface of the film along the incision.

RENE LEON ADOLPHE NUBLAT. 

